Something that's been bothering me...

pea-kay

In light of weemodin's post below, it reminded me of something that's been on my mind a lot, and I've tried not to think about it too much because I loooooved my MFM, the one who delivered my (an hollyoid's) boys.

And I know it's goofy, because I have three healthy boys. I don't have anything to regret, because nothing bad happened. But I keep thinking "what if?"

See, they never said my boys were ID. So I had u/s every three weeks or so (from 23 weeks to 30 weeks), but it's like they weren't even looking for anything to do with TTTS or other possible monochorionic complications. I think if they'd recognized that they were ID from the beginning (and it was pretty damn obvious from my first u/s), I may have been monitored more closely. At my 30 week appt, my next u/s was scheduled for 34 weeks! Isn't that nuts, to go four weeks without an u/s at that point?

In the end, I was hospitalized at 32 weeks for pre-e, and I had a couple of u/s there (one was just a h/b check, the other was a full-on growth u/s at 33 weeks) but it's like the complications from an ID triplet pregnancy were never considered.

But - my OB (who I dropped when I started going to my second MFM) and my first MFM (who I left after two appointments) were concerned about finding the dividing membranes between two of the boys. So of course they knew they were ID.

I know, this is rambling and doesn't make much sense. I have no reason to be thinking about this. Nothing bad happened. I don't want to ruin the happy feelings I have towards my MFM. I just can't help but think how lucky we were, and how things could have changed so fast and we wouldn't have even known.

FaeryStarGazer

Aw P, we all have the what if's in our heads. It's all right to think about those things. If you didn't know the things that *could* have happened, you may not be as grateful and appreciative of the good things that did, kwim?

It is nuts to go that long at 30w- at that point we were going every 2w, but if you were rocking that pregnancy, and they didn't think there was reason to worry about you, maybe they were keeping positive? Probably not the best preventative measure, but...I'm sorry the what if's are weighing on you ((hugs))

tripletmom

I am wondering if the ultrasound tech was looking for separations of membranes and all those other things, but never told you. Just a thought.

EverAfterinMi

Wow Pam.. that is a long time to go btwn ultra sounds. Not knocking your Dr. as I don't know much about your prenatal care, but that was not my experience at all.

I saw my OB every 2 weeks from 10-23 weeks and the MFM's on the alternate weeks I didn't see my OB in that stretch (they all work in the same office), so someone in that office saw me weekly. Every time I was in the office, my OB and MFM each did their own ultrasound.

After my little scare and hospitalization at that 23 week mark, I saw my OB every week starting at week 24 till the end. And the MFM still bi weekly. 

Besides the in office visit ultrasounds, I had level 2 ultrasounds bi weekly from weeks 12-till the end and starting at week 29, I added a weekly bio physical profiles. There were some weeks that I had 3 ultrasounds.

They were watching my identicals like a hawk since they thought they were momo at the start too. I am so glad they did cause Ben was over a pound and a half smaller than his identical. I am really surprised you weren't watched more closely with three identicals. 

Thank goodness they are all healthy and happy cause your super mom!

EggRock

Honestly I think it would bother me too.  We're all too familiar with the complications that identicals can encounter, and they are certainly scary.

 My two IDs were monitored very closely.  Towards the end I was having ultrasounds every few days, since they were concerned about little Fiona's slow growth.  Granted it was pre-e that cause my delivery, but TTTS was certainly a factor too.

 I know there's nothing you can do about it now, so I guess you just give your sweet boys an extra hug and thank whatever/whoever you thank for your good luck and healthy babies.

april062604

the "what if's" could kill all of us. ?i count my blessings every day. ?we are all so very fortunate. in light of the loss my friend is currently experiencing, everything is refocused back in perspective. i often get angry at my terrible pregnancy and the traumatic birth. ?it's hard, really hard, and i think "what if" almost every day; but then i stop myself b/c i have 2 beautiful healthy children. ?who cares if nap-time doesn't go well, or if someone is grouchy and teething, or if a feeding is a disaster...we beat the odds, all of us on this board, and that is the miracle of life.

krisc

I am surprised that it was never discussed...I have id twins and it was a main reason why I was seeing a peri every other week.  They thought they were momos for the first 12 or 14 weeks and after they found their membrane the weight/growth checks were their primary focus.  It's the reason I delivered at 35 weeks...Nate's weight dropped off and his heart was beating erratically.  I hate beating myself up with the 'what ifs' about that...what if they missed that? 

You are very lucky to have such beautiful and healthy boys.  I know it's hard not to focus on the 'what ifs'.  PP is right, every one of us on this board has miracles. 

pea-kay

tripletmom:

I am wondering if the ultrasound tech was looking for separations of membranes and all those other things, but never told you. Just a thought.

well, my second MFM did find the membrane, so I know at some point they were looking for it. but if they knew they were ID, wouldn't the doctor have told me? when i asked if he knew if they were ID, he said he didn't know, and even said that the placenta pathology was inconclusive. so it's not like they didn't tell me, he even admitted he didn't know if they were ID. during my c/s, you can hear him say "this looks like identicals" when he was discussing the placenta. 

in any case, an u/s every three weeks for IDs is not enough, i don't think.

oh well! i need to be very thankful for my sweet boys, and stop thinking of the "what ifs".

macchiatto

Yeah, I am really surprised they had you go from 30 to 34 weeks--even with twins that would seem a little weird to me, but especially with triplets! Like you said, it's too late now but I am so thankful that your pregnancy did go well and the what ifs didn't happen!